Homecoming 1990

 Warning: Flashback post.

A few nights ago, I was upstairs in the attic with a glass of wine going through all my old high school stuff.  I kept everything, y'all. Every sports article, every football ticket stub, yada, yada. So our 30th class reunion got canceled because of Covid, but some of my closer friends and I have a private group and after a zoom meet up, all the memories we shared had me up in the attic digging through all my high school memorabilia. 

I came across TONS of pictures (I was always taking pictures), but this one grabbed me because this was me at 17, a senior in high school, at my last semi-formal dance. Close enough to Alise's age right now. I couldn't wait to show her the picture, especially since she will be attending my ala mater's 2021 Homecoming this very weekend!

Here are a few details about this picture:

1. I borrowed this dress from my best friend, Amanda. Her mother actually made it. She sewed so she made several of Amanda's semi-formal dresses in high school. Our group borrowed one another's dresses all the time so it blows this mama's mind that Alise and her friend group doesn't do the same. It looks teal or blue in the picture, but it was actually green. When I posted this picture on my IG story, I said I looked like I was wrapped in Easter foil wrapping paper. Ha! My daddy nearly had a heart attack over the spaghetti straps, but I loved the ruching, ruffles, and dropped waist. Alise was not impressed. She said, "You wore THAT?!"

2. Notice the matching podiswa heels. I have no memory of having these heels dyed to match, but I'm pretty sure they were mine because we may have borrowed dresses, but not shoes. And, yes! I am wearing panty hose. 

3. I am assuming this picture was taken in my date's home because the fireplace isn't my parents'. My date was a year older than me and we doubled dated that night with my best friend who was dating my cousin at the time. Carrie's dress was black and white. My date is now a cop in Dallas. 

4. My tan is from a bottle of self tanner from Avon. All my friends were laying in sunbeds and my mother wouldn't let me (now I own one! I showed her! Ha!). I was in the throes of an eating disorder during this time. Although my senior year was one of the best times in my life, I struggled inwardly. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but best won out!

5. My hair was ombred before ombre was a thing! Actually, it wasn't. That was/is my natural color, although I don't remember it being quite so dark (in the actual picture, it's not). That was probably the longest my hair has ever been and probably ever will be again. The perm is real. It brings me joy that Alise gets her hair color from me. 

OPHS

Class of '91

Crazy Thoughts At 2AM

 Even though the humidity has made a comeback, I'm beginning to see little glimpses that fall is on the way! 🙌  Something happens every September and things just look and feel different. The sky is more bluer and less hazy. There's a slight breeze ever so often and the mosquitoes get fiesty. 

And so do I. Especially when I can't sleep due to throwing back too many Diet Cokes with friends on a Taco Tuesday night. I'm still buzzing on caffeine overload. 

Here are some crazy thoughts I've got going on...

I seriously don't even know what the Met Gala is, I mean, I've been to the Met - well, actually rode PAST it on a double decker BUS, but who's judging? - ANYWHOO!!  WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THESE OUTFITS!!  DOES ANYONE WEAR CLOTHES ANYMORE??  Good grief!!  Y'all's Mama needs to shame y'all! It just baffles me that everyone feels the need to out do the other! Why? What happened to classy and elegant? 

Speaking of which, the first go around with Beniffer was fun and exciting, but this time? Snooze. Put some clothes on!  You have kids.

Welp, I never in my wildest dreams thought my daughter would be going to my old high school's homecoming. And what's even CRAZIER is the fact that I was suppose to be having my 30th High School Reunion this weekend!! I'm still trying to let that sink in. So since the school technically cannot have a dance because of Covid, the parents are doing one for the kids at a local place in town. And, of course, because of Covid, our reunion was canceled. At least one of us will have a fun time ringing in homecoming at my old high school. 

Wayne is in Colorado this week with his best friend on a hunting trip. He won a tag to kill a bear. A FREAKIN' BEAR, y'all!!  He managed to figure out Marco Polo on his own and told me that he had a 350 pound bear walk out in front of him, but he/she/it went behind a bush and he couldn't get a shot. A 350 pound bear went behind a BUSH and he couldn't get a shot?? He's bow hunting btw. A little harder to get a "shot," I guess. Anyway, I told him a 350 pound bear was not going to fit in his expensive ice chest to bring home to Louisiana. He might need to re-think that one. 

My mom is still ill and just got out of the hospital again. I've come to the conclusion that I may need to begin taking over my mother's care and I am so thankful for the connections that I have in order to do this. I had a come-to-Jesus meeting with my parents on Sunday. It wasn't pretty. However, I will say that they have begun handling appointments better and we are now only waiting on one important test to come back as of today. Our new endocrinologist has been instrumental in my mother's care and I truly believe that God sent him to our area at just the appropriate time to help in diagnosing my mom. I am still hopeful and trusting God in these circumstances. 

Sweet dreams.

Two Shades I'm Loving This Fall

 Have you checked out Pantone's fall and winter palette? I personally do not let New York Fashion Week dictate the colors of my wardrobe, but it is nice to see what the trends are. 

I'm very surprised to see all the bright colors in the collection. They have more of a "spring" feel to me and I have yet to see these trends in the stores so far this season. 

However, two colors that I am IN LOVE with this season are navy and rust. And not necessarily together. My obsession with navy began a few weeks ago when I went to visit a friend and see her new home. She had decorated in shades of navy and gray throughout and I just absolutely loved it! As for rust, I loved the pieces that Cyndi Spivey and Jo-lynne Shane wore in this post and it has motivated me to add more of this color to my fall closet. For me, as a blonde, this color can be very tricky since I am not a warm toned person, but I ordered a sweater in this shade just a few minutes ago. 

What are your favorite colors to wear in Fall?

The Wind and Waves Know His Name

Thank you so much for your encouragement from my last post. It meant so much to know that I wasn't alone in my feelings and thoughts. The good news is that today begins a new week with new opportunities.

Kathie Lee Gifford posted this on her IG grid this morning and it reminded me of how worshiping truly helps with worry and anxiety. It certainly changed my heart last week! While I was listening to worship music, I heard the lyrics, "Even the wind and waves know His name." Little did I know just how much those words would mean a few days later with Hurricane Ida.

I woke up this morning, feeling very blessed that a rotten tree had not fallen through the middle of our house. We've had an appointment to get it cut for several weeks, but lo and behold, it still stands. Ida shifted more toward the east, so we only got some rain and a little wind. However, the lower half of our state was not as fortunate. We tracked the hurricane on our phones throughout the day yesterday, and when I was woken up at 1AM, and checked the path again, I was reminded of those lyrics. Everyone who lives in the coastal states knows how unpredictable hurricanes can be and they don't always follow the path of science. I think that's because the wind and the waves know His name. They certainly know His voice (Matt 8:26). I had such a peace this weekend with the anticipation of what was to come. 

Please continue to pray for the southern part of our state. 

I Hope There Is Chocolate in Heaven

My emotions have been all over the place since I heard about the bombings in Afghanistan. I have shed many tears. Truly what is breaking the Lord's heart is breaking mine, too. 

My mom is ill again. There was some "chaos" with her yesterday, so I took dinner to my parents and we began talking about all the world events that are going on. I told mama and daddy that I am just ready for the Lord to come back. Truly there is groaning in my spirit for a better place. A place where there is no evil, no viruses, no bombings, no hurricanes, and certainly no thoughts of your daughter being a senior in like 365 days! This world is not my home. And then I feel guilty for wanting the Lord to come back because I know that there are still people in this world who have never heard his name. 

I just feel this sense of darkness that I've never felt before. I saw the "evilness" (if that's even a word) and hatred last summer through all the rioting and election process, but this is something more sinister. It's like watching the dark overcome the light. It's like a moving reel of the day where the night swiftly takes over the day. Where a fog of doom and darkness begins to roll ever so silently into creation. I do believe this may be called 'spiritual warfare.' The jubilation we felt as a nation after the days of 9/11 have been replaced with sorrow and grief. 

I cried this morning and for just a few hours, I lost hope. And losing hope is not a good mental place to be in. I also ate a bag of M&Ms. Because sometimes, M&Ms and tears just go together. I hope there is chocolate in Heaven. As my tears fell, I felt God say to me, "Worship me," so I turned on Pandora to one of my favorite worship stations. I read scripture. And my soul was strengthened. I'm still sad, but my focus isn't where it was. There was a time when I didn't understand how worship could help in my time of sorrow, but it does, because it takes my focus off my feelings, off my circumstances, and puts them on the one person who is truly in control. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Take heart, friends. Take heart. 

Two Years Left

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad this morning when Alise left for her first day of her junior year. Every. single. day. I have taken Baby Girl to school. She started a wee school when she was one. She went to a private Catholic school when she was three and we started the school she now attends at age four. Some of our best mother/daughter moments were in the car on the way to school. And some of our not-so-great mother/daughter moments. When she was a baby, we would look for ducks or horses on the way to school. We would pass the manger scene at a local church and talk about baby Jesus. And during all those early years, and probably not until eighth grade, I never thought about the day when she would finally be old enough to drive herself to school. I was oblivious. 

I'd be lying if I said I didn't video her leaving and then shoot the video to Wayne, who said she was driving too fast. Spoken like a true dad. 

I'd be lying if I said I didn't give her my credit card to buy school supplies on her own. One chore that I did NOT mind giving up! There's just not anything fun about buying binders and loose-leaf paper. Alise could stand in front of a wall of binders all day! 

When Alise was younger, I would go to her school's peprallys with her and on Friday nights, we would go as a family to watch the home football games and she was just so mesmerized by the "older" kids. All the cheerleaders, the drumline, etc. and when they would speak to her, she would just melt. I reminded her earlier this week that now, SHE'S the big kid. And again, it's a scenario that I never thought about her being in. A friend of mine told me that her daughter was very nervous about making the transition to middle school so I told Alise to make a point to say hi and keep a check on her. Middle school memories are not as kind. 

Two years. We have two years left with Baby Girl and I feel like I have SO much to cram into this short time. But then, there's a part of me that doesn't want to cram, doesn't want to even think about it. I just want to enjoy my front row seat. 

                                                                   Kindergarten, August 2010

Things I Have Been Loving This Summer - Part 1

Like I said in my last post, we've a great summer! And it's gone by so quickly! Today I'm sharing round one of some of the things that I loved this summer. 

{We're having make-your-own pizza night with one of Alise's friends and I just burned the bacon because I was writing this post. 😠 Ugh!! The family isn't going to let me live this down! I'll hear about it all weekend. Now I need to wonder why the smoke alarm didn't go off?}

We discovered a new frozen pizza that we really, really like and I found it at a non-chain grocery store, but I think Walmart may have them, too. It's the California Pizza Kitchen brand and it's the Sicilian Recipe pizza. It kinda reminds me of a meat lovers, but the flavor is just fantastic.

I found out about Tom Brown's Body podcast by listening to the Big Boo podcast with Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson. I especially love crime/who dun it podcasts and this one was a FIVE star. I even told Wayne about it and he ended up finishing it before me. 

Speaking of media, we watched Cruel Summer as a family in July and we enjoyed it. It had been a long time since we've watched a series together. Alise normally likes the young adult shows, but they normally don't hold my attention and I give up. Needless to say, this one did and although I really didn't care for the ending - for reasons that I won't give away - it is definitely a series worth watching. 

Unfortunately we were very late getting our pool up and going this summer. Everything started out well and then we discovered water behind our liner so we knew we had a leak. Two weeks of waiting for the new liner to ship turned into nearly a month, and once we DID finally have it installed, then it decided to rain every weekend for about three weeks in a row! But I'm loving the new darker look of the pool.

Absolutely LOVED bringing out all the red, white, and blue this summer and flags just make me so happy! 

Lastly, I have been loving my Vitamin D. What, you say? Well, this spring I had my annual visit with my doctor and I told her how tired I was all the time and how I didn't have any energy. She did some blood work and prescribed me a weekly dose of 50,000 grams of Vitamin D. And I also take a daily Vitamin D and  - because I'm a doctor, too! - I decided to take a B-12 vitamin.  Y'all, I can't begin to tell you  how much better I feel! I go back in a few weeks to have my lab work done again and I can't wait to see just how low I really was and what the improvement numbers are. I haven't felt this good in a really, really long time.

Have a great week, Friends! Hoping to resume a more regular schedule after school starts next week!

I'm Still Alive!

I feel like I should give myself a great big hug and say, "Welcome Back, Sista!"

Not so fast, though. I'm certainly not going to make any promises that I can't keep.

Truth is, it's been a hot minute since I've been here in my little space on the internet. WHEN I thought about blogging, I sometimes felt guilty for not and other times, I had a peace about it. Peace that I was living life and enjoying my time with family and friends and not feeling like I had to write about every. single. thing. And guilty because I didn't. How could I go from blogging for nearly sixteen years and not even mention Baby Girl's Sweet Sixteen birthday?

It's coming. Later. 

We've had a wonderful summer, but the truth is, I kinda lost my mojo for writing. And when I DID feel like writing, I had nothing to say and didn't have the heart for a recap post. I filled that time with awful books - except the Bible, of course! - podcasts, Life 360, and pool time. I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer. 

It's hot now - very! - and I'm over summer. Bring on fall and sweaters and boots! Soups and Christmas! Pumpkins and candles! 

I'll be back soon. 

Currently ~ April 2021

I'm joining Anne today for this month's Currently link up. 

arranging// I have found the best flower wholesaler in our area and I think it's a secret hidden gem. Although their selection is sometimes limited, I've been very pleased with the purchases I've made so far this spring. Having said that, I've been doing some floral arrangements throughout our home as well as making small arrangements for friends and my desk at the office. One of my favorite arrangements is this one beside my bed. Years ago, my best friend gave me this unique vase and it's my favorite. These carnations are nearly four weeks old and STILL look beautiful and it brings a smile to my face everyday. 

craving// March has been the month for PIE and yummy salads. What a combination, right? I picked up a delicious strawberry pie on PI Day (March 14th!). On weekends we like to entertain or grill and eat outside by our pool and I have been trying all the Pinterest salads! So far, we have enjoyed them all, except for the Green Jacket Salad.  Wayne and Alise didn't like the dressing that went with that one. This one is still at the top of our favorite list and I even made it again on Easter when I cooked for us and my mom and dad. 

discussing// I'm trying to determine if my prayers need to be more specific or if God just has a really crazy sense of humor. Our family is praying earnestly for direction and guidance in regards to a situation that we're facing. And Wayne and I both feel that we have discussed the topic to death. So much so that we've both said we're sick of talking about it, yet we KEEP talking about it! Not in the sense that we don't know what to do, just the everyday turn of events. We trust that God's will is always perfect, even when we don't understand. 

enjoying// We visited the ranch in Texas mid-March. Such a fun and relaxing weekend for our family and plus one. Lots of fishing, ATV riding, reading, food, and March Madness. The weather was a little cool, but perfect! Wayne is actually taking his college group over there this weekend for a small retreat. 

preparing// We visited the vineyards this past weekend and I had a fun time preparing our picnic basket. The friends that went with us - who had actually never been before and so they didn't quite know what to expect - were amazed at all the food I brought (which really, wasn't very much!). Let's just say that even my charcuterie board made an appearance! Anyhoo, it was a fun night being outside with friends and listening to the band.  And the food was good, too! 

Prime Purchases ~ April 2021

I have to confess that March Madness and prime shopping do not mix well. Wayne enjoys watching the games, so I watch with him, but there were several games that sheer boredem sent me browsing and "adding to cart." 

I got so many comments about the "coasters," aka exfoliating pads from last month's prime post. I hope you decided to try them because it has been one of my favorite prime purchases so far this year. They work great and leave my face feeling so smooth and soft. 

Here are a few things I bought in March.

Shower Steamers// These are good y'all. The perfect aromatherapy pick-me-up that is not too strong or overpowering. Wayne even likes them. The key to them lasting even longer than just one shower, is not putting them directly in the shower spray. I've set the disk on the side of the tub and one lasted four showers! 

Bangle Bracelet Key Holder// Have you seen these because they are quite popular in my area. I bought this for a friend's birthday last month and stuck a gift card in the holder. She loved it! I loved it so much that I ordered three more for friends that I knew would enjoy them, too. The key holders come in a variety of colors and they make the perfect little happy gift. 

Letter Board Letters// I have a small letter board that my dear friend, Andrea, gifted me a few years ago and the letters I had were too big so I got these 3/4-inch size and they are perfect! 

Kitsch Satin Pillowcase// We got new sheets for Christmas so I decided to chunk my old satin pillow case.  I decided to replace it with this pillowcase because it kept showing up in my feeds and all the influencers were raving about it. It has a very luxurious feel and I love the leopard design, but my final verdict is still out because I'm not quite sure if it's worth the price point. 

Lounge Pajama Set// Love, love these pajamas! I use them as a lounge set and wear them lots of days to "work." Unfortunately, I can't wear them to bed. The material just doesn't work with my weighted blanket and peri-menopause, but they are leopard and so comfy that I decided to keep them anyway.

I hope your April is off to a wonderful start! It's going to be a great month! 

Happy Birthday, Andrea!

Woo hoo!! Blow up the balloons and bust open the bubbly, baby, because TODAY is THIS BEAUTY'S BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA!!

                          

If you've been reading my blog for a while, then I don't have to tell you that this Girlie is one of my favorite friends EVAH! She is the kindest and most thoughtful person and did I mention that she has a FANTASTIC sense of style?! I sure hope you're reading her blog and following her on Instagram (Be sure to follow her on stories!)!

Andrea is such an AH-mazing friend! Let's just say that she has talked me off the ledge several times! She also enjoys cooking and taking care of all those handsome men in her life. She has the best tiered tray designs and loves to make someone's day brighter. And I have to say that she certainly does mine!

Love you, Andrea! Hope you have the happiest birthday ever!! Celebrate BIG!!

Life Lately ~ March 2021

 Here's a post for the scrapbook.

Starting out on a sad note, but a few weeks ago, we found out that Wayne's college roommate passed away. Now, if you've been keeping up here on the blog, this is NOT the roommate I was dating when Wayne and I met twenty-eight years ago. This is the roommate with an addiction that bailed out of our wedding at the last minute. Do I sound bitter? I'm not. Unfortunately, his addiction ended up costing him his life in an elective surgery. He and Wayne lost touch through the years, but had spoken as recently as Christmas. It made me realize that when a friend you haven't spoken to in years calls you out of the blue, answer the call. It could be the last time you speak to them. 

We recently had a wonderful time in Texas at the lake house of one of our friend's. We took Alise out of school on Friday and she invited a friend. Other than being a little cool (my kid actually brought a bathing suit!) 🙄, our weekend was absolutely perfect! 

High school basketball awards (and compliments!) are not handed out like candy with our Coach. As a matter of fact, there are only three awards. Three. But I am happy to say that Alise received The Most Improved Award and we are so proud of her (I wish Wayne could have been there!). Alise joked that it was because she only got ONE technical this year instead of two last year. Thus, improvement. Ha! But, seriously, she only missed one practice the entire summer and season and gave 110% because she loves the game so much. Coach was very complimentary toward Alise and mentioned her improved ball handling, scoring, and leadership on the court. She had the most assists for the season. It was so fun to see Alise and her teammates all dressed up and not sporting pony tails. Ha! I know I've said this 1,000 times, but I LOVE watching Baby Girl play. I had this dream for her; I wanted her to cheer. But just like God says in His Word, His plans our not ours and after living my own mother's dreams, I was determined to not do that to Alise. And letting go has been more rewarding than I could ever imagine. When she beats the press, when she makes the high pass to her tallest post player and she scores, when she drives the lane and makes the layup, my heart could nearly burst. Yes, the season is long. Yes, there is still alot of drama and tears. Yes, I could buy an island for what we've paid in basketball expenses, but I would. not. change a single thing. Wayne and I both are looking forward to the next two years. 

In less than two months, we will have a new driver in da house! And after much arguing discussion, we made the decision to buy Alise a used vehicle (not terribly used, of course!) for her first pair of wheels. We purchased the car in Houston and with the help of Wayne's best friend that lives there, we were able to do the transaction seamlessly. We plan to surprise her in a few weeks. She is going to WIG. OUT!

We are now a four-eyed family. The day that I had hoped would never come arrived and now Alise has her own pair of glasses to keep up with. She blames her Spanish II class, but she only has to wear them in the classroom and to drive. Actually, she's pretty excited about them and this was a total daddy-daughter appointment because Wayne took her and she chose the frames that he liked (they were face-timing me from the eye doctor's office). Maybe she will let me post a picture wearing her new glasses a little later. 

Alise is being inducted into the National Honor Society today. We are so proud of her and her academic achievements.

I am taking a break from social media this week for Holy Week, but I wanted to be sure to document our month. 

Spring Favorites & Links With The Style Six

It's official! Yours truly has Spring Fever!!  Anyone else? Loved sitting out by our covered pool yesterday evening just listening to the wind chimes tingle in the March winds. I bet my Style Six sisters are ready for Spring, too!  Thanks for joining us today for our weekly link up!

This wicker bunny from Nordstrom Rack kept popping up in my social media feeds and we all know how I feel about that! Imagine my surprise this past weekend when I found one hiding from me at Kirkland's! So of course, he came home with me. Now I just need to find some ribbon to replace the one he's currently wearing. 

I shared this yummy salad earlier this week. It's so easy and is always a crowd pleaser. 

I absolutely love white dresses in the summer and this new website that I discovered has a plethora of them and just about every other style you can imagine for warmer temperatures. This white tiered midi dress is stunning, but unfortunately I have to keep checking back for my size. I love this simple, feminine maxi, too. I think this would be perfect for the beach! Throw on a denim jacket for cool nights. 

I tried this new mascara this week after I purchased the trial size for $15. The sales person hit me up as soon as I walked through the door and I got sucked in, but it's a happy sucked in if you can believe that. The key is  - just like she said! - waiting to put a second coat on after about five minutes. But you have to be careful with that second coat or it will make your lashes stick together. What I love about this mascara is that it makes my lashes longer, whispy-er, and feather-like. Totally recommend.

You will probably see this a little later in an Amazon post, but it's too good not to share. I am so surprised by this lip mask and balm from Andes Nature. And the best thing is that it's less than $10 bucks. I've been using it for about a week, and I just love it. So so good! I'm going to a favorite things party in a few weeks and I'm seriously considering this as one of my gifts. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Friends! I've actually been in the office working this week just because I've had so many deadlines and projects, and let me just say that wearing a bra and heels just aren't as fun anymore! Ha! 

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An Oldie But Goodie Salad Recipe

 Do you like to look through old cookbooks?

A few weeks ago, I decided to dust off a few of my favorite cookbooks with my mission being to find some new family recipes. Do you feel like you get in a rut with family meals? Even the "new" recipes we've discovered in the past few years have become hum-drum. 

Sometimes it's good to pull out old things, because GOOD things can fall right in your lap and that's EXACTLY what happened with the recipe I'm sharing today. Spring is in the air and I don't know about you, but I'm craving SALAD!

A little over twenty years ago, we had some best friends that we loved to cook and grill and entertain with on the weekends. We were newlyweds, they were newlyweds and their friendship just made those early years of marriage so much fun. We were constantly over at each other's house playing cards, watching a movie, grilling in the backyard, you name it. Misty and I hit it off so well and we became fast friends. She was from Mississippi, so we were kindred Southern girls at heart and SHE is the one that introduced me to this wonderful and super easy salad recipe. When my hand written version of the recipe literally fell out of one of my old cookbooks I was reading, it brought a HUGE smile to my face and I knew that I needed to make it very, very soon! 

And so I did!

When someone in your tribe says that she wants to spend her birthday celebration at your house instead of a restaurant, it truly warms your heart - even if she insists on keeping it simple. This past weekend, some friends came over and I made this Crunch Romaine Salad for them. Everyone brought something, too, so we had a nice meal that MAY have included a mimosa bar, because the Birthday Girl loves them (I don't always go the simple route!). It was a small group, but I love how my first mimosa bar turned out! And the chocolate cake was to die for! 

Here's my recipe for a great salad for family and friends!

Crunch Romaine Salad

1 package of Ramen noodles, uncooked and broken up

1 cup chopped walnuts

4 tablespoons of butter

Brown these ingredients in melted butter and allow to cool before putting on salad.

1 bag of Romaine lettuce

1 bunch of broccoli, cut of stems

Mix together in a large bowl.

Dressing (So good!):

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1/2 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of red wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the dressing ingredients together and refrigerate until ready to serve.  I like to put mine in a container that I can shake off and on before putting the salad together. The longer the dressing has to refrigerate, the better it is. Pour to taste over lettuce and broccoli. Add crunchy ramen noodle and walnut topping. You may not need all of the dressing. 

I love to serve this salad with steak and crawfish etouffee. My dad especially loves it! And every time I make it, I'm reminded of our friends that have since moved to Houston and the wonderful times we had together. Treasure your friendships. Love your friends. Serve them well. 

February Favorites ~ 2021

 For such a short month, February was packed with lots of joy and happy times for our family. My heart was certainly full. 

Remember the candy heart-shaped box that was as big as my head?! Well, pretend I just snapped my fingers and walla! THIS is what happened! I used the bottom portion of the box, lined it with wax paper, and created one of my favorite charcuterie boards yet! Everyone loved how it turned out! Especially me.

Mid-month, we got yet another winter storm that included more snow. If you remember, we also had one in January, but with this one came very, very cold temperatures in the teens. The northern part of our state was pretty much closed for a week. Wayne didn't go to work all five days, which has never happened. Alise was on winter break, so unfortunately, she didn't get to hang out with her friends as much as she had planned. Me? I cooked and baked all week and we all gained ten pounds!! I feel like all I did was eat, sleep, and binge Netflix. I got a little work done, too. But having said all that, the snow was really beautiful. This week the temps have been in the 70's and Alise and I have started back walking in the afternoons. Spring is definitely right around the corner! 

Basketball season is officially over and I honestly don't know what to do with myself these days with all my "free" time. Alise has decided not to run track this year, which Wayne and I are disappointed about, but it's her decision. Right after BB season ended, an acquaintance of ours posted this on Facebook regarding Alise's team. Actually we were a little shocked. It is our impression that this person was referring to Alise since she plays the point guard position and we do not have a number 10 on our team. Her back up is a single number and we only have one team - a JV team (we have no seniors). Having said that, this was a proud parent moment for us. We love watching our Baby Girl play and do what she loves. 

Having said that, the team played at Wayne's alma mater AND my parent's old high school in back-to-back weeks. I wish my parents could have been able to attend. The team's last game was their best game of the season and they put over 50 points on the scoreboard. They beat the other team by over 30 points, which is a spread they haven't made all season. It was definitely a happy moment and one to remember! Love seeing those happy faces!!

I hope your February was just as fun and fulfilling!  Have an awesome weekend! 

My Night Time Skin Care Routine

I've mentioned that if Covid did anything for me during all these months of quarantine, it introduced me to the wonderful world of You Tube. I've never been much of a You Tuber (and truth be told, I'm still not!), but I did manage to stumble into a whole new world of make-up and skin care peeps. Who knew "GRWM" meant, "Get Ready With Me"? My favorite channel by far is Kimberly at Pretty Over Fifty. She has introduced me to so many new products and her channel is so, so good.  I highly recommend her latest video here. 

Today I thought I would share my own nighttime skin care routine because I've recently gotten questions from friends about what products I use. I've been fortunate enough to find drug store brands that work for me. 

Step 1: Remove Make-up// I had never heard of the term, "double cleansing" until about a year ago when a popular instagrammer talked about it on her stories. But ya know what? It works! By removing my make-up first, my cleanser doesn't have to work so hard and my face feels extra clean.  I searched a while before I finally found a winner in No 7 Melting Gel Cleanser. This is a soft gel that I rub on my face, without water, to remove my make-up. Then, I just rinse it off with warm water. 

Step 2: Cleanse// I've been using this Cerave cleanser for years - ever since Melanie Shankle said that she did. After working it into a lather, I use my handy dandy exfoliating pad that I mentioned here to help alleviate any remaining dirt and make-up. 

Step 3: Tone// I searched a while for a toner and finally decided on this one from  Thayers. It comes in several fragrances at Target. 

Step 4: Serums// Kimberly introduced me to The Ordinary skin products. I've mentioned here and on my IG stories that I use them and I've had so many questions about them. I absolutely love The Ordinary because you get such a bang for your buck. Every night after I tone, I use the Niacinamide serum. It's a little sticky, so I'm sure to let it dry completely on my face before applying my creams. I use the Peeling Solution twice a week. This is a chemical peel and there actually is no "peeling" like in a mask. I leave it on my face for about ten minutes and then rinse with warm water. Sometimes, there is a little stinging sensation, but it's nothing harsh and never lasts long, however, if you have sensitive skin, the Peeling Solution may not be the product for you. 

Step 5: Creams// My favorite drug store product is Roc's Retinol Deep Wrinkle Cream because I've gotten the best results with my fine lines and wrinkles. The number "11" has nearly vanished from between my eyes! Ha! But seriously. 🙌  I've been using this product for about a year and it is one of the best drug store products in my opinion. 

Step 6: Exfoliate// This is the one product that I'm struggling with finding, a good exfoliator. During the fall, I used a sample size of a pumpkin exfoliator and I loved it so much that I can't seem to find anything like it, so if you are using one that you love, please let me know in the comments below. Right now, I'm alternating the Cerave cleanser with Clean & Clear Exfoliating Scrub. I also use a sheet mask once a week. 

Easy peasy!! And I don't beat myself up if I decide that my bed is more important than putting on serums or exfoliating. But I DO always remove my make-up each night. That's simply a must in my book. 

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Valentine Sweater #2 With The Style Six

My photographer was in a good mood on the day we took these pictures, so what can I say?  You know this heart was pretty big if it covered my head and hair! Ha!

Happy Valentine's Day, Loves! The day of love is definitely one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. Give me all the pinks and reds and Valentine sweaters! In case you've been keeping count, this is heart sweater number two. It's from the Loft and I only bought it because it was 50% off. 😉  I love a great deal! Don't you? I wore this sweater recently to a galentine's lunch with some friends and two of them ordered it right there at the restaurant table! I'll take that as a compliment. 

True story: I actually bought that heart shaped box of chocolates myself. I had plans for it that I'll show you in a later post. But the truth is, I don't care for chocolate that comes in boxes, even IF they're heart shaped boxes. Just give me a bag of Dove chocolates. 

This sweater reminds me of the ones I use to wear in the 80's. It's thin and has a wide band at the bottom that I like to tuck under. I get that from my mom; she always did that with her sweaters. Needless to say, it makes this 80's lady happy. 

I hope you're planning to link up with me and all my favorite valentines for our weekly linkup! Join us!

WELCOME TO OUR WEEKLY 

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